Mining machine drum cutter

ABSTRACT

A mining and loading apparatus and more particularly a continuous mining apparatus having improved means for supporting and driving the cutter drum assembly from a floating axle shaft at the forward end thereof.

United States Patent Pendolino 1 Oct. 3, 1972 [s41 MINING MACHINE DRUMCUTIER [72] Inventor: Eugene F. Pendolino, 419 Eleventh St., Franklin,Pa. 16323 [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No: 74,766

[52} US. Cl ..299/80, 299/89 [51 Int. Cl. ..E2lc 25/10 [58] Field ofSearch ..299/71, 75, 76, 80, 89

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kilboume ..299/76 X 8/1956Paget ..299/89X 9/1961 Densmore ..299/75X Primary Examiner-Ernest R.Purser Attorney-E. Wallace Breisch ABSTRACT A mining and loadingapparatus and more particularly a continuous mining apparatus havingimproved means for supporting and driving the cutter drum assembly froma floating axle shaft at the forward end thereof.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBBBI3 m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG 3 vINVENTOR EUGENE E PE IVDOL lNO PMENTEDum 1312 saw 2 or 2 l/WE/VTOI?EUGENE E PE/VOOL/A/O MINING MACHINE DRUM CUTTER In a continuous miningapparatus of the type employed in this invention, a disintegrating headmechanism is used to dislodge mineral from a mine face and is operableto provide mine passageway or room into which the apparatus advances andmining progresses. The disintegrating head mechanism is pivotallymounted on a mobile base to swing in a vertical plane between the mineroof and floor and includes a rotary drum cutting head assembly arrangedon a horizontal transverse axis and having teeth or bits which tear awayand dislodge the mineral. The rotary drum cutting assembly has thecutting drum portions thereof driven from a central headshaft.

The present invention contemplates improvements over known miningapparatus of the type described hereinabove for example, an improvedstructure for driving and supporting the drum cutting head assemblywhich results in the head shaft being primarily a torque transmittingmember only and additionally allows for varying the cutting width of ahead assembly without revising the head shaft or length.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent from a reading of the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of the mining machine embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section and showing the main gearcasing and a portion of the cutter head assembly of the mining machineshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section and showing half of thecutter head assembly of the mining machine shown in FIG. 1.

A continuous mining machine generally designated at 10, which embodiesthe principles of this invention, may assume various forms but, forillustrative purposes, herein comprises a crawler base 14 carrying aframe 16 on which a forwardly extending mining boom 18 is pivotallymounted at the forward end of the frame 16 to swing up and down betweena mine roof and a mine floor. A cutting head assembly 24 extendstransversely of boom 18 and is rotatably secured thereto at the forwardend thereof. Pivotally mounted at the forward-end of frame 16 andextending forwardly therefrom beneath the boom 18 is a conventionalloading head 26 having oscillatory gathering arms 28 for engaging minedmineral and moving such mineral rearwardly and inwardly toward wellknown conveying means 30 of the mining machine 10. Conventional fluidjacks (not shown) serve to swing the boom 18 in a vertical plane aboutthe pivot axis thereof and to tilt the loading head 26 about thehorizontal axis.

The cutting head assembly 24 is driven from a pair of motors 34. Asshown motors 34 are in spaced axial alignment and extend generallyparallel to assembly 24. Motors 34 are suitably carried by boom 18 atopposite side portions thereof.

The drive from motors 34 rotatably drives a cutting head assembly headshaft 36. Head shaft 36 extends transversely of the longitudinal axis ofmining machine and is captively and rotatably supported by tubular gearcasing extensions 38 which extend outwardly (i.e., transversely from thecenterline of machine 10) from a forward portion 40 of a main gear andsupport casing 42. Casing 42 is contained within a forward area of boom18 and is securely fastened to the inner sides thereof in any suitablemanner.

It is to be noted that inasmuch as the cutting head assembly 24described herein is symmetrical with respect to the centerline XX ofmachine 10, only one half of the assembly 24 and the supportingstructure therefor is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 with theunderstanding that the unshown half is substantially identical thereto.Additionally, inasmuch as the description hereinabove and hereinafterrefers to elements of assembly 24 and the supporting structure thereforon both sides of centerline XX while only one of such elements is shownit is to be understood that the unshown element is identical inconstruction and location to the illustrated element.

The drive from motors 34 is delivered to head shaft 36 in any suitablemanner, for example as shown and illustrated in US. patent applicationSer. No. 786,650, filed Dec. 24, 1968 and assigned to the same assigneeas is this invention wherein suitable gear trains 44 deliver the drivefrom respective motors 34 to respective final gears 46 in such trains.Gears 46 are in driving engagement with a splined portion of the headshaft 36. Shaft 36 extends through gears 46 in a transverse directionwith relation to the longitudinal axis of mining machine 10. The geartrains 44 and a portion of shaft 36 are captively and rotatably receivedby the gear casing 42. Gears 46 are rotatably supported within theforward portion 40 of casing 42.

It is noted that two gears 46 are equally spaced on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal centerline of machine 10, therefore the total drivingforce supplied to the cutting head assembly 24 by the motors 34 isapplied to the shaft 36 at the spaced locations of gears 46. With suchan arrangement no more than one-half of the total driving force isnormally applied to any given portion of the shaft 36 thus avoiding theoverstressing of a cutter head assembly drive shaft as is common withsome prior art machines.

As hereinafter described in detail head shaft 36 rotatably drives: anendless circulating belt type continuous hinge cutter chain 48 which hasa width thereof approximately equal to a transverse measurement ofcasing portion 40 taken at the forward end thereof; hollow cylindricalrotary drum cutting heads 50 which extend outwardly from respectivesides of portion 40; and hollow cylindrical rotary drum cutting headextensions 52 which are slidable partially received within end portionsof respective heads 50 and are selectively hydraulically extendableoutwardly therefrom.

At the longitudinal centerline of machine 10 a cutter chain drivesprocket 54 is in splined engagement with shaft 36. Drive sprocket 54has a plurality of teeth 55 around the outer periphery thereof whichdrivingly engage the cutter chain 48. A suitable rear idler sprocket(not shown) which is rotatable on a shaft which extends transversely ofthe forward boom area provides well known tensioning and motionreversing means for the cutter chain 48 to form a continuous orbitalpath therefor. For further details of chain 48 and the supporting meanstherefore reference is hereby made to copending US. application Ser. No.786,649 filed Dec. 24, 1968 and application Ser No. 786,650, filed Dec.24, 1968, and assigned to the same assignee as is this invention.

Spacer sleeves 60 are positioned along shaft 36 intermediate sprocket 54and gears 46 so as to maintain a spaced relationship between sprocket 54and gears 46. Outwardly adjacent (outward being away from sprocket 54along the centerline of shaft 36) of gears 46, annular roller bearing 62are disposed radially intermediate shaft 36 and the inner periphery ofcasing extensions 38 outwardly adjacent the respective axially innermostend of extensions 38. Roller bearings 62 provide a rotationalrelationship between the casing 42 and shaft 36. It is to be noted that,inasmuch as gear casing extensions 38 are of a comparatively rigidstructure, extensions 38 do not deflect laterally a substantial amountunder normal operating conditions and hence bearings 62 merely provide arotational and supporting relationship between shaft 36 and the casing42 and do not transmit any loads from casing 42 to the shaft 36.Substantially all normal loads acting on casing 42 are dissipatedthereby or by the boom 18.

Casing extensions 38 extend axially outward from respective bearings 62and have the axially outermost ends thereof inwardly spaced fromrespective axial ends of shaft 36. The inner diameter of casingextensions 38 are shown as being greater than the outer diameter ofshaft 36. A respective spacer sleeve.64 is disposed radiallyintermediate casing extension 38 and shaft 36 at an axially outerportion of extension 38.

Sleeve 64 is suitably splined to shaft 36 and is rotatable therewith.The outer diameter of sleeve 64 is less than the inner diameter of theportion of extension 38 radially adjacent thereto. A suitableanti-friction sleeve 66 such as bronze or the like, is disposed radiallyintermediate sleeve 64 and extension 38 and is fixedly secured toextension 38 in any suitable manner, for example having a radiallyoutwardly extending flange portion 68 outwardly adjacent the outer endof extension 38 with bolt means 70 threadably extending between flangeportion 68 and the respective extension 38. With such arrangement ofsleeves 64 and 66 as described hereinabove the outer ends of casingextensions 38 are in rotational communication with shaft 36 by means ofthe rotational engagement between the outer periphery'of sleeve 64 andthe inner periphery of sleeve 66. As mentioned hereinbefore the gearcasing extensions are of a comparatively rigid structure and as suchwill not deflect laterally a substantial amount under normal operatingconditions and hence the rotational communication between the shaft 36and the outer ends of easing extensions 38 merely provides a rotationaland supporting relationship therebetween and will not act to transmitany loads from the casing 42 to the shaft 36.

Outwardly adjacent to sleeves 64 and 66 internally splined rotary drumcutting head driving rings 72 are in driving engagement with shaft 36.When rotary drum cutting heads 50 are in assembled position the innerperiphery thereof is spaced radially outwardly from the outer peripheryof easing extension portions 38 along substantially the entire axialextent thereof and the axial outermost end of cutting heads 50 arespaced axially outwardly from respective axial ends of shaft 36. Drivingrings 72 are in driving engagement with the internal periphery ofrespective cutting heads 50 in any suitable manner which leaves a gapbetween the outermost extent of driving rings 72 and the adjacentinternal periphery of cutting heads 50. An acceptable ar- 'rangement isshown in FIG. 3 wherein driving rings 72 engage a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced keys 74 which have the outermost extent thereoffixedly secured to respective portions of cutting heads 50 and extendradially inwardly therefrom. With the cutting drum driving arrangementshown in FIG. 3 a suitable gap, for example thirty thousandths of aninch. exists between the outermost extent of driving rings 72 and therespective periphery of cutting heads 50 adjacent thereto.

Each cutting head 50 is rotatably supported by a plurality of rollerbearings disposed between the inner periphery thereof and the outerperiphery of a respective casing extension 38. As shown in FIG. 3cutting head 50 is rotatably supported by inner and outer rollerbearings 76 and 78, respectively. Bearings 76 are suitably captivelydisposed intermediate heads 50 and extensions 38 adjacent the axiallyinnermost ends thereof. Bearings 78 are suitably captively disposedintermediate heads 50 and extensions 38 adjacent the axially outermostend of extensions 38. I

With the driving and supporting arrangement of cutting heads 50 asdescribed hereinabove reactive forces on cutting heads 50 due to cuttingresistance and the like will react on casing extensions 38 and will notreact directly on shaft 36 nor will such forces be transferred throughextensions 38 to shaft 36. In other words, inasmuch as the cutting heads50 are rigid members supported to bear on respective portions of casing42 all external forces thereon will be transferred to casing 42 and suchforces shall never be reactive on shaft 36. Accordingly, inasmuch asshaft 36 is isolated from such external reactive forces, shaft 36 willbe primarily in torque only. It is .to be noted that should the portionof casing heads 50 adjacent driving ring 72 deflect an amount greaterthan the clearance between such portion and ring 52, a portion of theabove described reactive forces will be transferred directly to andcause bending stress in shaft 36, however, under normal operatingconditions of a cutting head assembly 24 of this invention designedaccording to the preferred standards the above mentioned deflection willnot occur under normal operating conditions.

The hollow cylindrical rotary drum cutting head ex-- tensions 52 have aninner diameter thereof larger than the outer diameter of cutting heads50 and are rotatably driven by respective cutting heads 50. As shown inFIG. 3, a plurality of circumferentially spaced keys 82 have the innerends thereof fixedly secured to an outer peripheral portion of cuttingheads 50 adjacent the axial outermost ends thereof. Heads 50 driverespective heads 52 by means of keys 82 drivingly engaging respectiveones of a plurality of cooperating keyways 84 which arecircumferentially spaced about the inner periphery of cutting headextensions 84. Keyways 84 extend axially outwardly from the axiallyinnermost end of cutting head extensions 52. The above described key andkeyway driving arrangement additionally allows for the reciprocableaxial movement of cutting head extensions 52 with respect to cuttingheads 50 by the axially sliding relationship which exists between keysand keyways 82 and 84, respectively.

Cutting head extensions 52 include transversely extending end capportions 86 at the respective outer ends thereof. Hollow cylindricalguiding and supporting members 88 have the outer ends thereof fixedlysecured to respective cap portions 86 and extend axially inwardtherefrom. Supporting members are coaxial with respect to the centralaxis of cutting head assembly 24. The outer diameter of supportingmembers 88 is less than the inner diameter of cutting heads 50. Spacerand retaining sleeve 90 are disposed intermediate the inner periphery ofcutting heads 50 and the outer periphery of supporting members 88. Theouter periphery of sleeves 90 are in captive engagement with arespective axial end portion of cutting heads 50. Antifriction sleeves92, such as bronze or the like, are disposed radially intermediaterespective sleeves 90 and supporting members 88. With the arrangement ofsupporting members 88 and sleeves 90 and 92 as described hereinabove,cutting head extensions 52 are supported by an outer end portion ofrespective cutting heads 50 for reciprocable movement with respect tocutting heads 50.

A continuous mining machine having a forward cutting structureconstructed according to the principles of this invention has acapability of adjusting to a plurality of cutting widths, for examplefrom 10 feet 10 inches to feet 6 inches, and/or cutting shapes such assquare or arch contours, without a necessity of providing new headshafts for such varying cutting widths or shapes. Minor changes incutting widths can be accomplished by merely extending or retracting thecutting head extensions 52, however, major changes necessitatessubstitution of new main cutting heads for the existing main cuttingheads of a particular cutting head assembly. Inasmuch as the inventionherein contemplates the head shaft 36 being primarily a torquetransmitting member only, the substitution of new cutting heads of alarger axial length will not result in any additional bending momentbeing imparted to head shaft 36 and hence head shaft 36 need only bedesigned to carry the maximum torque load applied thereto. Additionally,inasmuch as the cutting head extensions 52 are driven by the main drumcutting heads and not by the head shaft 36 it naturally follows that alonger length head shaft is not required to drive the cutting headextensions 52 when longer main cutting heads are required.

Cutting head extensions 52 are selectively extended and retracted in anysuitable manner for example by hydraulically extensible pistonassemblies 96 which have at least the major portion thereof coaxiallyreceived within head shaft 36 and have the rod ends thereof incommunication with respective end cap portions 86. For a detaileddescription of hydraulically extensible piston assemblies such asassemblies 96 reference is hereby made to the above mentioned copendingapplication Ser. No. 786,650. Hydraulic pressure fluid is selectivelysupplied to assemblies 96 by any suitable means for example such meansas fully illustrated and described in copending US. patent applicationSer. No. 786,648, filed Dec. 24, 1968.

lnasmuch as the invention herein is directed to a means for supportingand driving main cutter drums in a manner such that the driving headshaft is primarily a torque transmitting member only and the inventionis additionally directed to driving and supporting the cutter drumextensions directly from respective main cutter casings, variousmodifications can be made to the preferred embodiment describedhereinbefore, for example: a cutting head assembly can be constructedwithout any cutting head extensions 52 or a cutting head extension onone end thereof only; a cutting head assembly can be constructed whichdoes not incorporate the feature of supporting and driving the maincutter drums by means of this invention but which does include thefeature of driving the cutter drum extensions directly from the maincutter drums; a cutting head assembly can be constructed which does notinclude the feature of driving the cutter. drum extensions directly fromthe main cutter drums but which does include the feature of supportingand driving the main cutter drums in a manner of this invention; and thelike.

The scope of this invention is to be defined by the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A mining machine cutting structure comprising: a unitary supportmember; an elongated cutting head assembly mounted at the forward end ofsaid support member for powered rotation about a longitudinal axis ofsaid head assembly; said longitudinal axis extending transversely ofsaid support member; said cutting head assembly having a longitudinallyextending rotatably driven head shaft, said support member havingportions thereof extending in opposite directions along saidlongitudinal axis for rotatably supporting said head shaft at axiallyspaced portions thereof; said cutting head assembly having axiallyspaced main cutter casings coaxially extending from opposite sides ofsaid support member and supported solely by said support member; drivemeans having cooperable portions carried by said head shaft andrespective ones of said main cutter casings for transmitting power fromsaid head shaft to said main cutter casings for powered rotation of saidmain cutter casings; said cooperable portions of said drive means beingcooperable for driving only and having a radial clearance betweenadjacent surfaces thereof.

2. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 1additionally including bearing means disposed intermediate said portionsof said support member and respective main cutter casings.

3. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 1 includingaxially extensible and retractable end cutter casings.

4. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 3 includingdrive means having cooperable portions carried by said end cuttercasings and respective ones of said main cutter casings for transmittingpower from said main cutter casings to said end cutter casings forpowered rotation thereof.

5. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 4 whereinsaid cooperable portions include cooperating key and keyway portions.

6. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 1 includingbearing means disposed intermediate said portions of said support memberand said head shaft at said axially spaced portions.

7. A mining machine as specified in claim 1 including hydraulicallyoperable extensible means cooperable with said end portions for theselective extension and retraction thereof.

8. A mining machine cutting structure comprising: a unitary supportmember; an elongated cutting head as sembly mounted at the- 555mm end ofsaid support member for powered rotation about a longitudinal axis ofsaid head assembly; said cutting head assembly hav- .ing alongitudinally extending rotatably driven head shaft, said supportmember rotatably supporting said head shaft; said cutting head assemblyhaving axially spaced and axially extending main cutter casings andaxially extensible and retractable end cutter casings; drive meanshaving cooperable portions carried by said head shaft and respectiveones of said main cutter casings for transmitting power from said headshaft to said main cutter casings for powered rotation thereof; andother drive means having cooperable portions carried by said end cuttercasings and respective ones of said main cutter casings for transmittingpower from said

1. A mining machine cutting structure comprising: a unitary supportmember; an elongated cutting head assembly mounted at the forward end ofsaid support member for powered rotation about a longitudinal axis ofsaid head assembly; said longitudinal axis extending transversely ofsaid support member; said cutting head assembly having a longitudinallyextending rotatably driven head shaft, said support member havingportions thereof extending in opposite directions along saidlongitudinal axis for rotatably supporting said head shaft at axiallyspaced portions thereof; said cutting head assembly having axiallyspaced main cutter casings coaxially extending from opposite sides ofsaid support member and supported solely by said support member; drivemeans having cooperable portions carried by said head shaft andrespective ones of said main cutter casings for transmitting power fromsaid head shaft to said main cutter casings for powered rotation of saidmain cutter casings; said cooperable portions of said drive means beingcooperable for driving only and having a radial clearance betweenadjacent surfaces thereof.
 2. A mining machine cutting structure asspecified in claim 1 additionally including bearing means disposedintermediate said portions of said support member and respective maincutter casings.
 3. A mining machine cutting structure as specified inclaim 1 including axially extensible and retractable end cutter casings.4. A mining machine cutting structure as sPecified in claim 3 includingdrive means having cooperable portions carried by said end cuttercasings and respective ones of said main cutter casings for transmittingpower from said main cutter casings to said end cutter casings forpowered rotation thereof.
 5. A mining machine cutting structure asspecified in claim 4 wherein said cooperable portions includecooperating key and keyway portions.
 6. A mining machine cuttingstructure as specified in claim 1 including bearing means disposedintermediate said portions of said support member and said head shaft atsaid axially spaced portions.
 7. A mining machine as specified in claim1 including hydraulically operable extensible means cooperable with saidend portions for the selective extension and retraction thereof.
 8. Amining machine cutting structure comprising: a unitary support member;an elongated cutting head assembly mounted at the forward end of saidsupport member for powered rotation about a longitudinal axis of saidhead assembly; said cutting head assembly having a longitudinallyextending rotatably driven head shaft, said support member rotatablysupporting said head shaft; said cutting head assembly having axiallyspaced and axially extending main cutter casings and axially extensibleand retractable end cutter casings; drive means having cooperableportions carried by said head shaft and respective ones of said maincutter casings for transmitting power from said head shaft to said maincutter casings for powered rotation thereof; and other drive meanshaving cooperable portions carried by said end cutter casings andrespective ones of said main cutter casings for transmitting power fromsaid main cutter casings to said end cutter casings for powered rotationthereof.
 9. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 8with said support member having portions thereof extending in oppositedirections along said longitudinal axis and including bearing meansdisposed intermediate said portions of said support member andrespective main cutter casings for supporting said main cutter casings.10. A mining machine cutting structure as specified in claim 8 whereinsaid cooperable portions of said other drive means include cooperatingkey and keyway portions.